Just wondering if there are others out there who have decided to say no to chemo? I've been researching and reading constantly and have no problem with accepting radiotherapy and hormone treatment for 5 years, just not chemo. I know the risks and the stats and know that if I make this decision I have to be at peace with it and accept any consequences. Have another visit with Oncologist next week and then i need to make a decision. I know this will horrify my family and friends and guess that's my main dilema, do I say yes for their sake or do what I want and not have the chemo? Any thoughts?

The decision re Chemo or not should ultimately be yours based on the info that you have about your situation. It is up to you what you say or how you explain it to friends and family. Maybe a way to approach this is to explain that for you the risks that chemo involves out weigh the very small benefit that could be gained. Explain that your surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy will give you an excellent chance of remaining cancer free and concentrate on this part of your message. The fact is that there is always a chance, even if you have chemo, that the cancer may return. There are no guarantees so our best way forward is to base decisions on all the info that relate to OUR specific situation. I find that I am constantly explaining that there are many different forms and stages of breast cancer and that my treatment was appropriate for me but may be quite different from other peoples. I guess even most of us don't understand that at first! Make your decision and if you are committed and at peace with it, most people will follow your lead. Good luck with it and take care. Deanne xxx

It all gets down to your pathology report and the type of cancer you have. Also the % that they throw at you. Mid 40's, grade 2, stage 2, 90%hormone positive, her2 neg with no node involvement. The deciding factor for my chemo was the low Ki-67 pathology results, which showed my cancer would not respond to chemo and that having ovaries removed and 5 years hormone treatment would be better. Just take on board everything your Onco tells you, get a second opinion YES YOU CAN GET A SECOND OPINION. Most don't do this, perhaps we are all in a state of disbelief, shock and are very vulnerable. We seem to be happy getting second opinion for plastic surgery but not from another Oncologist. I personally changed Oncologist because I found the first one very unprofessional and would say something totally different at each consultation. All the best on your choice. Candice

I agree wholeheartedly with what Deanne has said. Everyone of us is an unique individual and our breast cancers are also very individual. Make an informed decision based on what you want to do. When we are diagnosed our lives become about us not about pleasing those around us. Often this is a difficult balancing act but the love of those around us always prevails. Best wishes, Helen.

No to Chemo? | BCNA Online Network

11 Replies

Dragonlover
Member
11 years ago
Thanks Deanne, I feel like I am having a real battle with this decision so am grateful to be able to unload even slightly on here. I have come up against some very strong reactions from family already when I've mentioned that I may not do the chemo and it blows me away! These are the times we learn a lot about ourselves and others I guess. I don't expect people to agree with my decision but am hoping that they can accept it without making me feel guilty and I'm seeing that not everyone will be able to do that. This is the hardest part for me, I know they want me to do chemo because they care and think I should do everything possible to fight this but if I don't agree that it's for me I don't want to have to defend my decision for the rest of my life. I agree that chemo is no guarantee that cancer won't return in some form but that's the risk I will choose to take. I've had the surgery and am open to doing radiotherapy and hormone therapy for 5 yrs so am not totally refusing treatment. Sick of thinking about it, it's all I do! Need to get back to oncologist and make this decision - will happen this coming week.
Janet_A
Member
11 years ago
Thank you for your post, it has cleared up so much for me. Yes I am focusing on the benefits being 2% . I did see a visiting oncologist as the other is away but I get to see her on my next visit, he seemed to be pro chemo whereas my surgeon thought it overkill. I feel so much better for reading these posts and clearer in my decisions.

The media are after the best story to give the best impact on their ratings, not the general publics feelings. It really annoys me but that seems to be the way in our digital age.
Janet_A
Member
11 years ago
Thank you for your post, it has cleared up so much for me. Yes I am focusing on the benefits being 2% . I did see a visiting oncologist as the other is away but I get to see her on my next visit, he seemed to be pro chemo whereas my surgeon thought it overkill. I feel so much better for reading these posts and clearer in my decisions.

The media are after the best story to give the best impact on their ratings, not the general publics feelings. It really annoys me but that seems to be the way in our digital age.
Blossom59
Member
11 years ago
The two Oncologist that I saw both went by this score, I was borderline for Chemo, but when the Ki-67 score came into play the choice was made for me. Basically my cancer cells were reproducing so slowly that it would be like dropping 20kgs of slug killer to kill one very slugish slug. LOL easy way to explain it. By shutting down the ferterlizer (my hormones) that would be enough to shut off the food source of my cancer.

The second Oncologst has just returned from France where this test has been used for many years, so I guess not all Australian Onco's request it to be done?? Not sure?

Here is a link that may explain it better than I have with my slugs.

http://breastcancer.about.com/od/tumormarkers/f/ki67.htm

Cheers Candice
Janet_A
Member
11 years ago
What is low ki-67?
Janet_A
Member
11 years ago
I have the same decision to make. I met my oncologist for the first time yesterday where she gave me the optiin of chemo. My ILC was 2cm in size PR neg, ER weak at 10%, HER neg, not in my lymph nodes, my surgeon said i would only need radiation, my oncologist wished my er recptor was higher, she offered chemo but did say the benefits would be the same as you dragonlover so where does that leave me or us when they leave the decision making totally up to us? I have until next week to decide, my partner will support me in any decision.

I can't forget what the doctor said on leaving, if it returns there is lesser chance of recovery.....resounded like a heavy door shutting. I know the decision is up to us as individuals but its funny what we remember.
HelenJill
Member
11 years ago
I agree wholeheartedly with what Deanne has said.

Everyone of us is an unique individual and our breast cancers are also very individual. Make an informed decision based on what you want to do.

When we are diagnosed our lives become about us not about pleasing those around us. Often this is a difficult balancing act but the love of those around us always prevails.

Best wishes,

Helen.
Blossom59
Member
11 years ago
It all gets down to your pathology report and the type of cancer you have. Also the % that they throw at you.

Mid 40's, grade 2, stage 2, 90%hormone positive, her2 neg with no node involvement. The deciding factor for my chemo was the low Ki-67 pathology results, which showed my cancer would not respond to chemo and that having ovaries removed and 5 years hormone treatment would be better.

Just take on board everything your Onco tells you, get a second opinion YES YOU CAN GET A SECOND OPINION. Most don't do this, perhaps we are all in a state of disbelief, shock and are very vulnerable.

We seem to be happy getting second opinion for plastic surgery but not from another Oncologist. I personally changed Oncologist because I found the first one very unprofessional and would say something totally different at each consultation.

All the best on your choice.

Candice
Blossom59
Member
11 years ago
It all gets down to your pathology report and the type of cancer you have. Also the % that they throw at you.

Mid 40's, grade 2, stage 2, 90%hormone positive, her2 neg with no node involvement. The deciding factor for my chemo was the low Ki-67 pathology results, which showed my cancer would not respond to chemo and that having ovaries removed and 5 years hormone treatment would be better.

Just take on board everything your Onco tells you, get a second opinion YES YOU CAN GET A SECOND OPINION. Most don't do this, perhaps we are all in a state of disbelief, shock and are very vulnerable.

We seem to be happy getting second opinion for plastic surgery but not from another Oncologist. I personally changed Oncologist because I found the first one very unprofessional and would say something totally different at each consultation.

All the best on your choice.

Candice
Deanne
Member
11 years ago
The decision re Chemo or not should ultimately be yours based on the info that you have about your situation. It is up to you what you say or how you explain it to friends and family. Maybe a way to approach this is to explain that for you the risks that chemo involves out weigh the very small benefit that could be gained. Explain that your surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy will give you an excellent chance of remaining cancer free and concentrate on this part of your message. The fact is that there is always a chance, even if you have chemo, that the cancer may return. There are no guarantees so our best way forward is to base decisions on all the info that relate to OUR specific situation. I find that I am constantly explaining that there are many different forms and stages of breast cancer and that my treatment was appropriate for me but may be quite different from other peoples. I guess even most of us don't understand that at first! Make your decision and if you are committed and at peace with it, most people will follow your lead. Good luck with it and take care. Deanne xxx